2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs field is set

The 16 drivers for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs are set. Find out who is in the field and learn about the elimination format.

The 16-driver field for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs is set after Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

The following drivers are in the postseason field:
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet: 2,052 points
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford: 2,024 points
Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota: 2,024 points
Kyle Busch, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota: 2,022 points
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet: 2,021 points
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet: 2,015 points
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota: 2,015 points
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet: 2,014 points
Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford: 2,013 points
Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Team Penske Ford: 2,008 points
Kurt Busch, No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet: 2,008 points
Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota: 2,005 points
Michael McDowell, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford: 2,005 points
Aric Almirola, No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford: 2,005 points
Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet: 2,003 points
Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford: 2,002 points

All drivers in the playoffs will see their point totals reset to 2,000 with their playoff point totals then added in ahead of the three-race Round of 16 that includes Darlington Raceway, Richmond Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway. Any playoff eligible driver that wins a Round of 16 race is automatically locked into the next round. Following the Bristol race, the drivers with the four lowest point totals (who haven’t won in that round) will be eliminated.

To start the Round of 12, all drivers will see their point totals reset to 3,000 with their playoff point totals then added in ahead of the three-race round that includes Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. Any playoff eligible driver that wins a Round of 12 race is automatically locked into the next round. Following the Charlotte race, the drivers with the four lowest point totals (who haven’t won in that round) will be eliminated.

To start the Round of 8, all drivers will see their point totals reset to 4,000 with their playoff point totals then added in ahead of the three-race round that includes Texas Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Martinsville Speedway. Any playoff eligible driver that wins a Round of 8 race is automatically locked into the Championship 4. Following the Martinsville race, the drivers with the four lowest point totals (who haven’t won in that round) will be eliminated.

The Championship 4 will see their point totals reset to 5,000 only playoff points will not be added in and these drivers will not be awarded stage points in the final race on Nov. 7 at Phoenix. The title winner will be the highest finishing driver among the four Championship-eligible drivers. Since this format was adopted in 2014, the championship winner has also won the final race.